Hubble Photographs Two Huge Asteroids Ceres and Vesta

rlb2 · Jun 21, 2007

Ceres is round, like a planet, and 590 miles (950 kilometers) wide. The rock, about the size of Texas, contains some 30 to 40 percent of all the mass in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Thought to be a planet after its discovery in 1801, Ceres was later reclassified as an asteroid. But under the new and controversial planet definition that demoted Pluto, Ceres is now considered a dwarf planet. Vesta, the other target, is irregularly shaped and about 330 miles (530 kilometers) wide-about the size of Arizona. I tried to increase the sharpness in the images below and this is what I ended up with. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070620_hubble_ceresvesta.html 070620_hubble_ceres_Vesta_02 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

3488 · Jun 21, 2007

Thank you very much rlb2. You will probably be very interested in this: 4 Vesta colour full rotation . This is a most fascinating development. I have covered some of this in the DAWN mission thread over in Missions & Launches, but this thread could be used to focus on 1 Ceres & 4 Vesta themselves. I like your enhancement of 1 Ceres, top panel. It clearly shows further albedo variations that were not visibe on the original. I hope you do not mind, I have downloaded it. Is the 4 Vesta image above your enlargement? Also the Hubble Space Telescope was searching for any moons that 4 Vesta may have. I will pursue that line of enquiry & if I find anything, I will post it on this thread. Once again, thank you very much. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

rlb2 · Jun 21, 2007

I hope you do not mind, I have downloaded it. Here are some more Vestra images I enhanced from the link you provided, I had to rearrange them to fit on this board so I don't booger up the posts. One looks like as if someone shot a bullet through it.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

3488 · Jun 21, 2007

Thanks again rlb2. Your images are the best I've ever seen of 4 Vesta. For someone who is interested in planetary science, I am very grateful to you. I have downloaded your enhanced set. BTW, I was hoping you might do something like that. You are correct, that 'crater' does look like a bullet hole. Your images do seem to show more features. I think that you may have uncovered another tall mountain. I owe you a big one. BTW I still enjoy your Mars images also. I will keep an eye on further developments & I will post anything new on here. I hope that asteroid 2 Pallas will have the same treatment from the HST & your enhancements too. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 21, 2007

Hi anvel. I think that is because 1 Ceres was a little further away back then & despite the same camera being used, I think Hubble has had software improvements since then. It would be a good idea for HST to repeat the 1 Ceres observations, as well as carry out 2 Pallas observations also. If you look at rlb2's excellent enhancements, 4 Vesta looks like a 3D object. I have noticed, that the second image up from the bottom, there appears to be a huge outward 'bulge' with a shadow beneath. 4 Vesta is clearly irregularly shaped. It is also clearly visible in image 5. That 13,000 metre high mountain at the south pole does appear to mark the actual south polar point. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

h2ouniverse · Jun 21, 2007

[[[That 13,000 metre high mountain at the south pole does appear to mark the actual south polar point]]] Andrew, That is quite logical IMO. A huge impact has formed this crater, scrapping Vesta from a large part of its matter. And leaving it with the line between impact point and its antipode as Vesta's smaller dimension. Hence this line became the axis of larger inertia, i.e. the natural flat spin direction. What we call the poles line... Logical then that the mountain marking the impact is close to the South pole. Joel

rlb2 · Jun 21, 2007

The resolution (to my eyes) on the Vesta image seems finer than the resolution on the Ceres image. I would think this would be the other way around in that they are about the same distance, but Ceres is much larger. I don't know the distances or scale of the images, one may be more distant than the other, however like you I am curious about which one is the most distant. As stated above Andrew (3488) seems to know the answer to that. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

rlb2 · Jun 21, 2007

Your images do seem to show more features. Thanks. The raw images beamed down to earth are seldom taken with the right filters or lighting therefore they need to be darkened or brightened a bit, I added contrast also, that gives more of a 3D effect. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Ron Bennett </div>

deapfreeze · Jun 21, 2007

Will either of these asteroids make it close to earth at all? I haven't read much about them yet. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

Aetius · Jun 21, 2007

Never. They're part of the Main Asteroid Belt.

deapfreeze · Jun 21, 2007

Ok. Thank you just came across this thread and wasn't sure.. I will still have to read more about them... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> William ( deapfreeze ) Hooperhttp://deapfreeze-amateur-astronomy.tk/ </div>

dragon04 · Jun 22, 2007

Those images are tantalizing. Makes a guy want to see them with much greater resolution. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!". </div>

ajna · Jun 22, 2007

"Ceres' round shape suggests its interior is layered, like Earth's is, astronomers said. It might have a rocky core, an icy mantle and a thin dusty crust. There could be water inside, too." Is it possible that Ceres may be the core of a planet(oid) that was smashed ages ago?

3488 · Jun 22, 2007

Hi Ajna, The answer is no. 1 Ceres indeed appears to be differentiated, but is a still born planet rather than the core of a smashed up one. Jupiter prevented the material within this region from forming into a planet. The huge asteroids 1 Ceres, 2 Pallas & 4 Vesta, were just getting large enough to grow into fully fledged worlds when the material forming them was cut off. 1 Ceres was large enough & maybe either had enough radioactive heating or had a large moon in an elliptical orbit (long since lost) that kept 1 Ceres warm enough to differentiate into a core, mantle & crust. 4 Vesta also differentiated into a mantle & basaltic crust. Subsequent impacts have blasted huge chunks away, revealing darker material from the mantle. 4 Vesta & 2 Pallas, are almost identical in size, (although 4 Vesta in the denser & therefore the more massive one), spectra of 2 Pallas reveals Olivine & like 4 Vesta, 2 Pallas may have lava flows in addition to a cratered surface. 2 Pallas has not been observed with HST as yet, but hopefully that glaring omission will be rectified. There is a rumour that the DAWN spacecraft will go onto 2 Pallas after the primary mission at 4 Vesta & 1 Ceres is completed. These three objects are very important in understanding the origin of the terrestrial planets. Also Jupiter stunted the growth of Mars. Thanks Joel for your answer. It does make sense. When the impact blasted that huge crater with that large central peak, the centre of mass would have changed. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 22, 2007

Enlarged & contrast further stretched, of 4 Vesta, showing the huge 'bulge'. Thanks to rlb2 for doing the original excelllent enhancemants. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 22, 2007

Images 3 & 4 from rlb2's panel above of 4 Vesta. On the right, on the terminator are visible indentations that are likely craters & / or mountains. Dappling effect seen here on 4 Vesta are almost certainly impact craters. The dappling is real, as the same features can be followed through as 4 Vesta rotates & are in the same positions one rotation later. Also there is a prominent dark spot near the North Pole. I have enhanced & further stretched the contrast. Thanks to rlb2 for doing the original excelllent enhancemants. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 22, 2007

Enlarged & contrast further stretched, of 4 Vesta, final image of above panel, showing considerable albedo variations & indentations along the terminator. Alsmost certainly a very rough, cratered, mountainous surface. Likely to be boulder strewn. Thanks to rlb2 for doing the original excelllent enhancemants. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 22, 2007

Ceres orbits between 2.5 and 3.0 AU from the sun, Vesta 2.2 to 2.6 AU. Just for fun reference, Eris is from 37.8 to 97.6 AU from the sun <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> And of course, Hubble orbits at ~ 1 AU <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

vandivx · Jun 22, 2007

"A chipped away remnant from massive collisions with the remnant either being too rigid to gravitationally contract into a rough sphere, or too insubstantial to have enough overall mass to do so. " ------- it is going to turn out pretty well the same as asteroid Eros I suspect http://near.jhuapl.edu/ vanDivX <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 24, 2007

Hi anvel, I suspect that 4 Vesta is too rigid. 4 Vesta is far larger & more massive than any rubble pile objects seen to date (253 Mathilde, Amalthea, Epimetheus). 4 Vesta is solidified lava, not that unlike the material making up the Earth's mantle. Hi vanDivX. In many close views, yes you are probably right. There will be likely some big differences also. 433 Eros will serve as a tiny satellite for 4 Vesta. The size & mass differences are enormous. Also 4 Vesta appears to have undergone thermal evolution, that 433 Eros has not. 4 Vesta almost certainly has lava flows & possibly solidified lava lakes. 433 Eros & 4 Vesta are very different critters. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 25, 2007

1 Ceres colour HST six panel rotation back in December 2003 & January 2004. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

Hubble Photographs Two Huge Asteroids Ceres and Vesta

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